AFTER AN immense amount of talent was displayed across eight different regions, the winners for each region have finally been selected and they will go through to the Passport to Airlie final, on November 3.
This year’s list of finalists includes The Neo from Darwin, Abi Muir from Cairns, Weathered form Mackay, Perry Street Park from Brisbane, Karly Jewell from Melbourne, Dande & The Lion from Newcastle, Sunday Lemonade from Byron Bay and Owls of Neptune from the Sunshine Coast.
To further add to the element of excitement that Passport usually brings, this year’s final will be held under the main tent of the festival!
“Playing on a big stage with a big PA is a game changer,” The Superjesus frontwoman, and one of this year’s celebrity judges, Sarah McLeod said.
“Most artists are used to hearing very little on stage in pubs. We call it ‘combat rock’, you make the best of what you have and play your little heart out irrespective of the fact that no one can ever really hear anything clearly,” Sarah said.
“To play on a stage with a big PA and have all the instruments heard and the vocal loud through the wedges is something that’ll blow their minds, if they’re not used to it.”
With so much talent amongst the Australian music scene at the moment, Sarah said it was incredibly hard to wrangle it down to just eight for the final this year.
Brisbane’s Passport to Airlie organiser Stacey Laree agreed.
“The level of talent this year was amazing,” Ms Laree said.
“It was hard even deciding who would go through to the heats. the difference between winners was a matter of points.”
The finalists could not be any more excited for the opportunity to play at Airlie Beach.
“The opportunity to play at Airlie is huge, Perry Street Park’s front-man Benny said.
“Not only the chance to be in this competition up against acts from all over Australia, but just to be a part of Queensland’s festival of the year.”
Nicholas from Dande & The Lion added, “We are absolutely stoked! It looks like a really good setup that the organisers have worked hard to put in place.”
The Passport is just another one of the many reasons people are travelling from all over Australia to come to the festival, adding to a line-up that already consists of Rogue Traders, Ben Lee, The Animals, Eskimo Joe, Mi-Sex, Jon Stevens and many more incredible acts.
This year’s event will be held on the main stage at the Whitsunday Sailing Club and kicks off at 6pm on November 3.
Entry will be free for all three-day ticket holders for the festival and $10 at the door to all other spectators, the event will also be all ages.
